How to Make Jesus Angry

 

How to Make Jesus Angry (Mark 11:15-19)

“It is written in the Scriptures that God said, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations.’ But you have turned it into a hideout for thieves!” (Mark 11:17)

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I have never seen Jesus so passionately angry.

Jesus, his disciples, and the other followers who had been walking with Jesus returned to Jerusalem the morning after the people had welcomed him so robustly. We went straight to the Temple. That is Jesus’ custom wherever he goes. He always goes to the synagogues to worship and teach; in Jerusalem, then, it is only natural that Jesus would head to the Temple.

Since the Passover is approaching later in the week, Jerusalem is beginning to fill up with the faithful pilgrims who have come from near and far to participate in the feast and offer the sacrifices required by the Law of Moses. Because it isn’t always possible to bring one’s sacrificial animals the long distances required of many of the pilgrims, and since most people don’t have the Temple shekels used for Temple business, the officials have set up moneychanging tables and booths where animals may be purchased for the sacrifices. It’s always been that way. They set up the marketplace in the outer courtyard of the Temple, the one designated for the gentiles. 

Over the years, the prices of the sacrificial animals have gone up steadily. It’s gotten so a lot of people aren’t able to afford the animals. And the rate of exchange for the Temple shekel seems pretty steep. Ordinary working people are slowly, but surely, being excluded from Temple worship simply because it costs too much.

Well before we got to the Temple, we heard the chaotic din of the people and the animals. And the smells of the animals hit us like a sack of stones in the face. I noticed that Jesus’ demeanor changed as we drew near the Temple. By the time we entered the courtyard of the gentiles where the moneychangers and the animal sellers were, Jesus was livid. His face was crimson with anger. 

Jesus went into a rage. He ran through the marketplace, yelling like a madman. He screamed at the moneychangers, “Out! Get out!,” flinging their coin boxes off of the tables. He overturned the tables of the sacrificial dove vendors, sending feathers flying everywhere.

Then suddenly he stopped. There was a stunned silence in the crowd at that moment. Filled with passion, Jesus shouted for everyone to hear, “It is written in the Scriptures that God said, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations.’” Then he looked directly at the moneychangers and animal vendors and said with venom in his voice, “But you – you! – have turned it into hangout for thieves!”

As I said earlier, I have never seen Jesus so angry. He was livid. He was filled with zeal, consumed by zeal for his Father’s house.

So were the chief priests and teachers of the Law. They, too, were filled with rage. Not at the price gouging and messy chaos of the Temple marketplace, but at Jesus. Jesus’ actions had cost them a lot of money. Even more, the people were really paying attention to Jesus. I could see it on the faces of the Temple officials – they were going to find a way to get rid of Jesus and the threat he posed to their way of life.

Then we left the city. On our way back to Bethany, while I was walking with Jesus and the others, I thought about everything that had happened. Jesus had quoted words from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. I remembered how God’s vision was for people from every nation to come to worship on God’s holy mountain. I also remember how, back in the days of king Josiah and his successors, Jeremiah had brought a long message from God, accusing the kings and Temple leaders of exploiting the people. It seems that the people of today have repeated the sins of our ancestors.

I realize now that at least part of Jesus’ anger was stirred because the courtyard of the gentiles, where the marketplace had been set up, was the only place that gentiles were allowed to gather to worship. And how could they possibly worship with the sounds and smells of the marketplace? Some people were turning a nice profit, but at a great cost to others who earnestly desired to worship God. It made me think back to just a few days ago when Jesus warned of the severity by which God would judge those who caused others to stumble in their faith. Suddenly, what Jesus had said became very real, no longer just an idea to think about.

As I walk with Jesus, I realize that Jesus is passionate about wanting everybody to have access to his Father. And if Jesus desires everybody to be able to worship and serve his Father, then so should I desire the same thing. I don’t want to do anything that would send the message to others that they are not welcome or to create obstacles that prevent them from worshiping God. Neither do I want for any community of people with whom I gather to worship God to send a similar message.

Zeal for the good name of the Lord filled Jesus. I pray that the same kind of zeal will fill my heart, as well as the hearts of all who walk with Jesus.

Dear Jesus, fill my heart with zeal for your name, not so that I may personally profit or benefit from my relationship with you, but so that others have unhindered access to you. Amen.